Apparatus for separating textile articles



Jan. 19, 1965 H. L. LOFLEN 3,166,261

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING TEXTILE ARTICLES Original Filed July 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1965 H. L. LOFLEN 3,166,261

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3 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) This invention relates generally to an apparatus for separating successively connected textile article blanks which are joined together by removable connector threads. This application is a division of applicants copending application Serial No. 212,503, filed July 26, 1962.

Removable connector threads are most commonly used in the production of knitted sweater blanks, cuffs, and collars and the connector threads are loosely knit and join together the successively knit blanks. Although the removable connector threads may remain in position during some steps of the processing of the continuous length of material, such as during washing and/or dyeing, the connector threads must be removed to separate the blanks from each other at some stage before they are utilized in the finished garment.

In many cases, the connector threads are manually removed to separate the article blanks and this is a timeconsuming and costly operation, particularly when the knit material is of considerable width and the removable connector threads are therefore long. In an attempt to reduce the cost of this manual connector thread removing operation, several different types of connector thread pulling devices have been proposed. Each of these prior thread pulling devices includes a rotating member which pulls the connector thread from the material when one end of the connector thread is engaged by the rotating Examples of these thread pulling devices may be found in the Weller Patent No. 2,422,154; the Kastrinsky Patent No. 2,779,084; and the Feldstein et al. Patent No. 2,926,416.

While the above-noted-thread pulling devices all perform their intended operation; i.e., that of pulling the removable connector threads from the material, the material must still be manually positioned adjacent the rotating thread pulling members and held in position While the connector threads are pulled from the material. In many instances, particularly when the connector threads are being pulled from wide knit material, it is difiicult to hold the material in position as the threads are pulled and the material is gathered together or bunched up during the removal of the connector threads. Then the separated blanks have to be straightened out and neatly stacked before the next operation, such as cutting and/or sewing. Also, when thread pulling devices such as those shown in the Kastrinsky and Feldstein et al. patents are used, the

connector threads accumulate on the rotating mandrel and must be periodically cut away.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for quickly and easily removing the connector threads and separate successively connected knit article blanks, and for maintaining the material in a flat condition while the connector threads are being removed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing connector threads of the type described which includes conveyor means for moving the material and the successively separated articles along a predetermined path of travel while maintaining the same in a flat condition and thread removing means which includes a rotating member positioned adjacent the convey- United States Patent 3,166,261 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 material and from which the accumulated connector threads may be easily removed by merely sliding the bundle of connector threads off the smaller end of the mandrel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing connector threads of the type described which includes variable speed drive means for the conveyor means and the rotating thread removing device so that the speed of movement of the material and the speed of removal of the connector threads may be coordinated to suit the requirements of the particular type of knit article blanks being separated.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing connector threads of the type described in which the conveyor means includes a pair of conveyor belts having corresponding juxtapositioned reaches between which the material is held in a flat condition while the connector threads are removed by the rotating thread removing device.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, illustrating the manner in which the conveyor means moves the material past the rotating thread pulling device and holds it in flat condition while the connector threads are removed to separate the article blanks;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, looking at the side of the apparatus shown at the bottom of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1, and illustrating one end of the upper conveyor in raised position in dotted lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in FIGURE 2 with the central portion of the conveyor means broken away; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 2 with the central portion of the conveyor means broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a work table 10 which is supported at one end by legs 11 and 12 and at the other end by legs 13 and 14 (FIG- URES 2 and 3). The forward end of the table 10 supports a pair of spaced apart frame members 15 and 16 (FIGURE 5) which extend upwardly from the table 10 and support the material conveying means, to be presently described.

One end of a conveyor or delivery table 20 is suitably supported on the frame members 15 and 16 and its other end is suitably supported on legs 21 and 22 (FIGURES 2 and 3). A lower conveyor belt 24 is supported on an idler roller 25 and a driven roller 26 (FIGURE 3) with its upper reach supported in sliding engagement on the upper surface of the delivery table 20. The idler roller 25 is supported in suitable bearing members attached to the delivery end of the table 20 and the driven roller 26 is supported for rotation in the frame members 15 and 16 (FIGURE 5). The shaft at one end of the driven tionship by a transversely extending tie-rod 7t roller 26 extends through the frame member 16 and has a gear 33 and a pulley 31 fixedly secured thereto.

A drive belt 32 engages the pulley 31 and a pulley 33 which is fixed to the output shaft of a variable speed unit 34 (FIGURE 2). An electric motor 35 is connected to the input shaft of the variable speed unit M'and is suitably supported on the lower surface of the work table It) (FIGURES 2 and 3). The variable speed unit may be of any suitable type and his preferably provided with a lever 36 which may be moved to control the speed of the output shaft.

The shaft at the other end of the driven roller 26 is rotatably supported in the frame member 15 (FIGURE and has a sprocket 4t fixed to the outermost end thereof. An endless sprocket chain 41 engages the sprocket 4t? and also engages sprockets 42 and d3 (FIGURES l and 2) which are fixedly secured to the shafts at one end of respective fluted rolls 44 and 45. The fluted rolls 44 and 45 are supported for rotation in outwardly projecting extensions a and 16a of the respective frame members 15 and I6.

The gear drivingly engages a gear (FIGURE 5) which is fixed on one end of the shaft of an upper conveyor drive roll 51. The shaft at opposite ends of the drive roll 51 is rotatably supported in vertically movable bearing members 52 and 53 which are mounted in the respective frame members 15 and 16. The upper conveyor drive roll 51 is resiliently urged downwardlyby springs 54 and 55 which engage the respective bearing members 52 and 53 and the amount of downward pressure applied by the springs may be varied by adjustment screws 56 and 57. g j

An upper conveyor belt 69 is supported on the upper conveyor drive roll 5ll (FIGURE 3) and on an idler roll 62. The shaft at opposite ends of the idler roll 62 is supported in bearing members 53 and 64 (FIGURES 1 and 4) which are in turn fixed to respective longitudinal frame members 65 and 66. One end of the frame members 65 and 66 has upstanding legs which are held in spaced rela- The opposite ends of the longitudinal frame members 65 and 66 are held in spaced relationship by a transversely extending tie-rod 76 (FIGURE 1) and have one end of respective hinge plates 80 and 81 suitably connected thereto. The opposite ends of the hinge plates 80 and 81 are pivotally supported on the shaft adjacent opposite ends of the upper conveyor drive roll 51.

Roller guides 85 and $4 are supportedfor rotation on the upper end of respective support brackets 85 and 86, the lower ends of which are suitably secured to the respective frame members 65 and 66. The roller guides 83 and 8 engage the edges of the upper conveyor belt 60 and maintain the same in proper alinement on the upper drive roll 51 and the idler roll 62.

Thus, the springs 54 and 55 and the weight of the upper conveyor resiliently urge the lower reach of the upper conveyor belt at downwardly into engagement with the upper reach of the lower conveyor belt 24, or with the upper surface of any material fed between the lower and upper conveyor belts 24 and 66. In some instances, it is necessary to apply greater downward pressure on the upper conveyor belt 69 and in the present instance, additional downward pressure is provided by a weight applying plate 99 (FIGURES 3 and 4). The plate 5t rests in sliding engagement on the upper surface of the lower reach of the conveyor belt 50 and is held in position by suitable connector chains 91 which are connected at one end to one end of the plate 9d and at their other ends to the transverse tie-rod 76 (FIGURE 3).

The corresponding lower and upper reaches of the respective upper conveyor belt 60 and lower conveyor belt 24 are juxtapositioned and resiliently hold any material passed therebetween in a flat condition. Also, the free end of the frame supporting the upper conveyor belt 60 may be raised to the dotted line position shown in FIG- 4g, URE 3, if desired, since the hinge plates 80 and 81 pivotally support the opposite end of the frame on the shaft of the drive roll 51.

When removing the spaced transversely extending removable connector threads, indicated at T in FIGURE 1, from relatively wide tubular knit material, such as that indicated at M in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it is preferred that a spreader element 95 be employed to spread out and flatten the continuous tubular material M as it is fed to the apparatus. In the present instance, the spreader element 95 is formed by a substantially U-shaped rod which has an enlarged transverse member connecting opposite legs of the U-shaped rod (FIGURE 3). The enlarged transverse member prevents the spreader element 95 from being drawn inwardly and between the upper and lower conveyor belts MP and 24.

The spreader element 95 is initially placed inside of the free open end of the tubular material M and the end of the tubular material is fed between the lower and upper conveyor belts 24 and 60 with one edge extending outwardly beyond the edges of the conveyor belts far enough for the connector threads to be grasped by the operator. As the material M is drawn inwardly between the upper reach of the lower belt 24 and the lower reach of the upper belt 60, the spreader element 95 is supported in the material by the fluted rolls 44 and 45 while the Work table supports a supply of the material in folded condition (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3).

The conveyor drive motor 35 may be controlled by the operator to stop and start the conveyor as desired and in the present instance a foot switch is schematically shown (FIGURE 2) in the electric circuit to the motor 35. The electric circuit to the motor 35 includes a main wire 101 which is connected at one end to the motor and its other end isconnected to'one side of a suitable electric plug 102 which may be connected to any suitable source of electrical energy, not shown. The other side of the plug 102 has one end of a wire 103 connected thereto and the opposite end of which is connected to one side of the .foot switch ltltl. A wire 104 is connected at one end to the opposite side of the switch 100 and its other end is connected to the electric motor 35. Thus, the operator can control operation of the conveyor by the foot switch lied and the speed of travel of the conveyor may be adjusted to the desired speed by adjusting the lever 36 of the variable speed unit 34 (FIGURE 1).

The table 20 is provided with an outwardly projecting portion 29a (FIGURES land 4) which supports the connector thread removing or pulling device broadly indicated at lit) in a position adjacent one edge of the path of travel of the lower and upper conveyor belts 24 and 60. The connector thread removing device includes a rotating mandrel III which is tapered and supported in a vertical or upright position (FIGURES 4 and 5). In the present instance, the upper end of the mandrel 111 is smaller than the lower end and the mandrelis frustroconical.

A transverse connector thread receiving slot 111a extends axially and inwardly from the smaller upper end of the mandrel. i c

The larger lower end of the mandrel III is fixed on the upper end of a drive shaft 112 (FIGURE 4) which is rotatably supported in a bearing 1113 fixed to the lower surface of the extension 20a of the table 20. Aclutch 115 at times connects the shaft 112 with the output shaft 116 of a variable speed unit I17 (FIGURE 2). The variable speed unit 117 has a speed control lever 118 which may be regulated to vary the speed imparted thereto by an electric motor 12%.

The electric motor 12d may be suitably connected to any source of electrical energy, not shown, and rotation of the mandrel III is controlled by operation of the clutch 115 by means of la knee-operated lever 122. The motor 129 and variable speed unit 117 are supported on one side of a vertically disposed plate 123 which is fixed at its upper end to the lower surface of the outwardly projectis ing projection 20a of the table 20 (FIGURE 2). The lever 22 extends through and is pivotally supported on the vertically disposed plate 123 (FIGURES 2 and 5).

The proper speed of rotation of the rotating mandrel 111 will depend upon the type of connector thread being removed, the width and type of knit material, the manner in which the connector threads are placed in the material, and the speed of rotation of the mandrel 111 should be coordinated with the speed of travel of the conveyors 24 and 60 so that the connector threads are removed while the knit goods are held in a flat condition between the lower conveyor belt 24 and the upper conveyor belt 60. Also, the size of the weight applying plate 91} may be varied in accordance with the type of material from which the connector threads are being removed so as to maintain the proper amount of downward pressure on the material to maintain the same in flat condition. However, the amount of downward pressure applied by the upper conveyor belt 60 should not be any greater than necessary to maintain the material in flat condition or it will interfere with the removal of the connector threads.

As illustrated in the drawings, the material M is of the type which has been knit on a large diameter circular knitting machine to form sweater body blanks which are connected to each other by loosely knit connector threads T. These connector threads T are knit in the material after each blank is completed and it joins adjacent ends of successive blanks together. After the connector threads are removed, separated individual garment or article blanks, indicated at A in FIGURE 1, are provided.

Before tubular material is fed to the present connector thread removing apparatus, the connector threads T are cut at the edge of the material opposite the edge from which the connector threads will be withdrawn, as indicated at c in FIGURE 1. Then, as the material is fed between and moved by the lower and upper conveyor belts 24 and 60, the marginal edge of the material having the uncut portions of the connector threads is exposed and the operator can easily grasp the successive connector threads and pull the same outwardly a sutficient distance to entrain them about the rotating mandrel 111. Then, as the material is moved past the rotating mandrel 111, rotation of the mandrel 111 will draw or pull the connector thread T from the material and separate the article blanks while maintaining the same in a flat condition.

After the article blanks A move out from under the upper threads are collected and wound on the mandrel 111, it

is only necessary to bring the succeeding connector threads into contact with the rotating mandrel. Then, the windings of threads on the mandrel engage and wind the end of the connector thread therearound and pull the same from the material. In FIGURE 1, the mandrel 111 is shown rotating in a clockwise direction, however, it is to be understood that the mandrel 111 may rotate in either direction.

After a bundle of connector threads T have been accumulated on the tapered mandrel 111, they may be easily removed by lifting them upwardly and off of the smaller upper end. Thus, the mandrel 111 may be easily stripped or cleaned without requiring any cutting of the threads.

As heretofore mentioned, the present apparatus may also be utilized to remove the connector threads from nontubular fabric, such as a continuous strip of interconnected collars, cults or waist bands by simply feeding the material between the lower and upper conveyors 24 and 60 with one edge of the material exposed. In most flat material, the connector threads may be removed without having to cut the same and they may be removed by pulling them outwardly far enough to engage them with the mandrel 111 which then removes the same as the material is advanced through the apparatus.

In cases where the strip of fabric is relatively narrow and therefore the connector threads are relatively short, it may be desirable to increase the speed of travel of the conveyors as well as the speed or rotation of the mandrel 111. In other instances, where the distance between separator threads is small, it may be desirable to slow down the speed of travel of the conveyor and speed up the rotational speed of the mandrel 111. As has been 7 mentioned heretofore, in some instances it will be desirable to change the amount of weight applied to the upper conveyor belt 6i! to facilitate the removal of the connector threads T. Although the conveyor belts 24 and 60 are 1 adapted to be continuously moved, they may be moved in a step-by-step manner if desired.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A thread pulling device for removing transversely extending connector threads from a continuous length of textile material to separate the material into individual textile articles, said device comprising (1) an elongated tapered rotatable mandrel having a relatively narrow slot extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the smaller end of said mandrel and adapted to receive the connector threads therein for being Wound on the mandrel, said mandrel being smooth-faced for facilitating stripping of the wound threads therefrom, and

(2) drive means connected to the larger end of said mandrel for imparting rotation to said mandrel about its longitudinal axis for pulling the connector threads from the material and thus separating the articles from each other.

2. A thread pulling device for removing transversely extending connector threads from a continuous length of textile material to separate the material into individual textile articles, said device comprising (1) a frustroconical rotatable mandrel having a relatively narrow slot extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the smaller end of said mandrel and adapted to receive the connector threads therein for being wound on the mandrel, said mandrel being smooth-faced for facilitating stripping of the wound threads therefrom, and

(2) drive means connected to the larger end of said mandrel for imparting rotation to said mandrel about its longitudinal axis for pulling the connector threads from the material and thus separating the articles from each other, said drive means including (a) variable speed means for selectively varying the rotational speed of said mandrel, and (b) manually operable clutch means for starting 1 and stopping rotation of said mandrel.

3. A thread pulling device according to claim 2 wherein said frustroconical mandrel is vertically disposed with the smaller end thereof uppermost.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,305,586 6/19 Brown 2817 1,687,704 10/28 Anderson 242-18 2,536,594 1/51 Cook 28-17 2,779,084 l/57 Kastrinsky 28-17 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A THREAD PULLING DEVICE FOR REMOVING TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING CONNECTOR THREADS FROM A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF TEXTILE MATERIAL TO SEPARATE THE MATERIAL INTO INDIVIDUAL TEXTILE ARTICLES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING (1) AN ELONGATED TAPERED ROTATABLE MANDREL HAVING A RELATIVELY NARROW SLOT EXTENDING INWARDLY A PREDETERMINAL DISTANCE FROM THE SMALLER END OF SAID MANDREL AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE CONNECTOR THREADS THEREIN FOR BEING WOUND ON THE MANDREL, SAID MANDREL BEING SMOOTH-FACED FOR FACILITATING STRIPPING OF THE WOUND THREADS THEREFROM, AND (2) DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE LARGER END OF SAID MANDREL FOR IMPARTING ROTATION TO SAID MANDREL ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS FOR PULLING THE CONNECTOR THREADS FROM THE MANDREL AND THUS SEPARATING THE ARTICLES FROM EACH OTHER. 